Combined jar lifter and top remover



June 6, 1933. J. J. ELSTER 1,912,975

COMBINED JAR LIFTER AND TOP REMOVER Filed June 24, 1931 JuZius J EZsZcr;

Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES JULIUS .1. ELSTER, or mL sBono, stamens COMBINED JAB LIFTER me ror Remover,

Application filed June 24,

My invention relates to special tools, more particularly to a special tool for use inlift ing preserving jars and for removing their tops, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein shown and described. a

, During canning operations housewives and others often find it necessary tolift the preserving jars from hot water or raise the same under other circumstances where manual. contact is impracticable. It is therefore primary purpose of my invention to provide a means for lifting preserving jars and similar receptacles without manual contact therewith.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device that is well adapted for the removal of caps from preserving jars or the like.

z A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has few parts, does not get out of order easily, and is simple to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear in as the specification proceeds and the device will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

My device is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view showing my device in use as a jar lifter,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of my device utilized as a jar cap'remover,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my device in operation in accordance with Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is an elevational a portion of the device.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a pair of similarly formed but oppositely disposed levers, 1, pivotally interconnected as shown at 2, and having handle portions 3 arid jaw portions 4.. Thesejaw portions lhave detail view of teeth, 5, on their inner edges for adapting the device for usage as a pair of pliers.

The outer extremities of these jaws 4 are equipped with upstanding portions, 6. for purposes that will soon be made clear. They 1 are also provided with ears, 7 having eyelets,

8, therein for the reception of the end por- 1931. Seria1 No.546,6 42.

tions, .9, of a looped resilient member such as a piece of spring wire, 10. i

From the foregoing description the useland operation of my device is easily understood. Whenthe operator desires toraise the jar, he simply places the looped band of wire 10 about the top, 11, thereof, as shown most clearly in Figure 1 and engages the jar beneath the bead, 12, present in jars of conventional construction today, with the portions 6 on the ends of the. jaws 4. He then need only take hold of the handles 3 to raise the, jar. The jar will be retained in the position shown 'in Figure 1 under action of the force of gravity, operating to secure the same betweenfthe members 6 and the looped band in a manner easily understood.

When the operator desires to utilize the device as a ar top remover, he simply positions the band about said jar top with the end portions 6 engaging the wall of the jar top in a manner shown most clearly in Figure 2. When the device is so positioned, circular motion of the handle about the jar will bring about a wedging action of the cap between the looped member 10 and the wall 6 to grip'the cap for the unscrewing or removing operation. a

If it is desiredto lift kettles or other similar receptacles, the loop is removed from the end of the levers and the device used in a manner similar to the use of a pair of pliers for raising said kettles, the projecting portions, 6, facilitating this gripping actionwhen so used.

When the device is utilized as a jar lifter, a single handle having a projecting portion similar to that of 6 and eyelets for the reception of the looped band could be utilized without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It is thus seen that I have provided a lifter for preserving jars and the like which enables an operator to raise said jars in an easy manner without manual contact therewith. a

It is also seenthat I have provided a jar top removing device which is well adapted for gripping a threaded jar top or the like for the removal thereof.

It is further seen that I have provided a device readily adapted for general usage as a lifter of kettles and similar receptacles that performs its function in a very efl'ective man- 1161'.

What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A jar lifter and cap remover, comprising levers having handles at one extremity of each of said levers, laterally extending ears adjacent the other extremities of said levers, a loop secured to said ears for engagement about the top of the jar, and members projecting laterally from the extremities of said levers for engagement with the side Wall of the jar at substantially a normal thereto, said laterally projecting members extending in a plane transverse to the planes in which said ears lie. I

2. A jar lifter and cap remover, comprising a pair of similarly formed but oppositely disposed levers swivelly interconnect ed, laterally projecting portions the extremity of said levers for engagement With the side wall of the jar at substantially a normal thereto, laterally extending ears adj acent said laterally extending portions, said ears lying in planes transverse to the plane in Which said portions extend, and a looped band having its ends secured to said levers for engagement about the top of the jar.

JULIUS J. ELSTER. 

